. "I'm so
n, transmigration, prophetic dreams, a very specific
performance, no sweetness, just bone-deep wea
ened my mouth. Clos
rn? You died and then-" I made a rewinding gestu
I woke up back on the day Father discovered me as h
h
n
very beginnin
much worse t
ed over me like a b
like me, reading along and trying to survive. She was the rea
that
nd words that wouldn't sound completely i
y, walking toward the do
with your interrogati
on the wooden floor. "Hold on. Shouldn't we team up? We both kn
ev
ame out li
nderstand. We're both in the
ething cold settle in my stomach. It was finality. "I don't care if you were reborn,
I'm
st because you have ano
her sides, even as h
original Beatrice. I'm from a completely d
stopped listening the moment s
y from Earth where you're all fictional
me. "But it doesn't change anything. You were born wicked,
hol
s spring gala?" Her voice cracked slightly.
dn't. That was the old B
up. That no matter how many jewels Father hung on m
l Beatrice was
t wa
ow. "You told everyone I was being dramatic. That I was m
ee the gold flecks in her eyes. The tiny scar on her chin. Th
s I've alway
it, think about the big picture! We could work toge
en for fi
rom you to last two
door. For someone who looked like she'd blow away in a stiff br
t stockings on polished wood gave me exactly zero traction. "I'm
nd. "I listened for months. Every cruel word. Every cutting remark. Ev
at wasn
ccidentally' knocked my books into the fountain. Every time you invited gu
s Ch
t looks b
y tim
nto the corridor wi
ac
e, the sound echoing through th
d there in my stockings,
rged up, hot
that's how we'r
f the entire household heard. "Have it your way
rom the o
because apparently I could
ce came muffled through the wood, but I could hea
yway? He's about as interes
in
r the finality in her voice. The door
moment, breathing hard, my
ent spectacu
one look at my face, and immediately flattened herself against the wall like I was about to br
y la
owledgment, because apparentl
ramatic is on-br
der my breath, then immediately regrette
elves into doorways, ducking into side rooms, one man actually diving behind
re regularly? Why is everyo
spread that I
ven get to take my
ancestor with disapproving eyes and an elaborate wig stared down at me, lo
how I fee
ack down the dim corridor
ai
quiet, talking to
sting dancing shadows on th
ai
picked
omething I should have caught immediately but was
sed to be a happ
novel. I'd read
e title, her father's affection, a beautiful estate. The book ended with her standing
e. Perfec
heir protagonists. That's n
w did Ma
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